Firefighters Los Angeles County had the Freeway Complex fire 40 percent contained by 12 p.m. Monday, as wind gusts decreased to just five to 10 m.p.h. from as high as 80 m.p.h. over the weekend.

KCBS Reports

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County, part of a four-county area scorched by the fire, which has burned more than 28,000 acres in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties and has destroyed more than 160 homes.

Meanwhile, residents of a Sylmar mobile home park where nearly 500 homes were destroyed returned for the first time to check on their homes, or in some cases, see what could be salvaged from the ashes.

Vans carried small groups of residents past the rubble at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park and made brief stops so residents could collect medication or other essential items before returning to an evacuation center at Sylmar High School.

One black van was used to ferry people whose homes had been destroyed. White vans were used for people whose homes were still standing.

Betty Glassman, 78, rode in a white van. She told the Associated Press her house is "in great shape" except for being dirty.

But not everyone was so lucky.

"The car is gone. The house is gone. It's twisted metal. It's totally charred there. There's no hope at all. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing," said 82-year-old Ed Hurdle.

Wildfires have been burning since Thursday night in Southern California, when the Tea fire erupted in Santa Barbara County. Authorities say they've determined that fire was caused by a person, although they're unsure whether it was set intentionally, or by accident.

No word yet on what caused the other two weekend blazes.